Sensing device for footwear
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsSteven H. Walker, Phillip Meneau
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear can include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at or in an insole of the article, and a controller circuit, disposed within the sensor housing, configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on a foot presence indication. In an example, the sensor system includes a capacitive sensor configured to sense changes in a capacitance signal in response to proximity of a body. A dielectric member can be provided between the capacitive sensor and the body to enhance an output signal from the sensor.
Claims20
A detector for use with a footwear apparatus, the detector comprising:
- a body sensor configured to:
- obtain a first reference capacitance level;
- in response to an electric signal from a signal generator circuit, use electrodes of the body sensor to provide an electric field inside of the footwear apparatus, wherein the electric field extends away from the electrodes of the body sensor;
- detect a body of a user relative to the footwear apparatus when the body interrupts the electric field relative to the first reference capacitance level;
- after a predetermined time, set a second reference capacitance level;
- subsequently to setting the second reference capacitance level, detect the body of the user when the body interrupts the electric field relative to the second reference capacitance level;
- and
- output an indication of detecting the body at the second reference capacitance level.
A method for operating an automated footwear system, the method comprising:
- obtaining a first reference capacitance level;
- in response to an electric signal from a signal generator circuit, using electrodes of the body sensor to provide an electric field inside of the footwear apparatus, wherein the electric field extends away from the electrodes of the body sensor;
- detecting a body of a user relative to the footwear apparatus when the body interrupts the electric field relative to the first reference capacitance level;
- after a predetermined time, setting a second reference capacitance level;
- subsequently to setting the second reference capacitance level, detecting the body of the user when the body interrupts the electric field relative to the second reference capacitance level;
- and
- outputting an indication of detecting the body at the second reference capacitance level.
A detector for use with a footwear apparatus, the detector comprising:
- a processor circuit configured to:
- obtain a first reference capacitance level;
- in response to an electric signal from a signal generator circuit, use electrodes of the body sensor to provide an electric field inside of the footwear apparatus, wherein the electric field extends away from the electrodes of the body sensor;
- detect a body of a user relative to the footwear apparatus when the body interrupts the electric field relative to the first reference capacitance level;
- after a predetermined time, set a second reference capacitance level;
- subsequently to setting the second reference capacitance level, detect the body of the user when the body interrupts the electric field relative to the second reference capacitance level;
- and
- output an indication of detecting the body at the second reference capacitance level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.